Quiksilver Inc. announced two promotions within its corporate and Americas region management teams, both effective Nov. 1. Craig Stevenson, who has served as the company’s Americas region president, was named global brand president and chief operating officer of Quiksilver Inc. Rob Colby, previously Quiksilver Americas chief operating officer, succeeds Stevenson as Americas region president.
These promotions follow a period of significant improvement in the financial performance of the company's Americas business. Over the past two years, profits generated by Quiksilver's Americas region have nearly tripled and the company expects further significant improvement looking forward.
Stevenson's primary focus in his new role is to lead the company’s global initiatives in product development, sourcing and Enterprise Resource Planning, phase 1 of which was successfully implemented in September.
Robert B. McKnight, Jr., chairman of the board, chief executive officer and president of Quiksilver Inc., commented, “We’re really pleased with the fantastic job that Craig has done in driving the turn-around of our Americas business since he undertook the lead Americas role nearly three years ago and I’m delighted that he’ll have an opportunity to make an even bigger contribution to our global success with his new responsibilities. At the same time, Rob has been instrumental in reorganizing the Americas business through a lengthy number of process improvements and increased efficiencies and I’m certain he’ll be a terrific successor to Craig as president of our Americas region. Like Craig, Rob has a long history with our company and he’s extremely well-respected throughout the organization. With these two appointments and our progress driven by these guys in their prior roles, our great brands Quiksilver, Roxy and DC are positioned to deliver continued improved performance in the future.”
Stevenson served as Quiksilver Americas President since January 2009 and was also Quiksilver global brand manager between April 2007 and January 2010. Stevenson previously served as Quiksilver South Pacific President and was managing director for Quiksilver Australasia between 2002 and 2007. Prior to that, he served as the company’s marketing and sales manager in Australia from 1999 to 2002 and as Quiksilver’s national sales manager in Australia between 1992 and 1999.
Colby served as Quiksilver Americas senior vice president and chief operating officer since May 2010. Colby also served in various capacities with the company from 2002 to 2007 including senior vice president and general manager, Latin America, senior vice president, business development and vice president, Quiksilver Entertainment. Prior to rejoining the company as senior vice president, business process improvement in 2009, he was the chief operating officer of a Los Angeles-based apparel company. Colby received a B.A. from the University of California Santa Barbara and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California.
